Story by UW-Stout Polytechnic
For his generous service to the Menomonie community and his inspirational mentorship and philanthropy to UW-Stout Polytechnic, Howard Lee has received the UW-Stout Polytechnic Luminary Alumni Award.
Lee’s career at UW-Stout and his service to the Menomonie community have been marked by leadership, mentorship and a commitment to helping others. He played a significant role in strengthening UW-Stout’s reputation in career and technical education and developing partnerships with industry and community organizations.
“Helping others and meeting new people gives me satisfaction. Everyone can make a difference. Just make the time and do it,” Lee said. “As long as I can volunteer, I will continue.”
Lee, who received his bachelor’s from Stout in 1968 and his masters in 1969, returned to UW-Stout in 1986 as program director for the M.S. and Ed.S. programs in vocational and technical education and co-director of the Center for Vocational and Technical Education. His work included international projects that brought technical educators from Turkey and Russia to Stout to study the university’s teaching and laboratory methods.
He later served as a department chair and program director and as associate dean and dean in the School of Industry and Technology and the College of Technology, Engineering and Management. He also served as executive director of Stout Solutions before returning to the faculty as a professor and program director of career and technical education.
Lee advised the International Relations Club, hosted international students and visiting faculty, and served as a research adviser to numerous graduate students. He was a Bush Fellow, a Dahlgren Professor and completed postdoctoral work at Carnegie Mellon University. He also co-authored “Instructional Analysis and Course Development.”
“I had the opportunity to work with so many wonderful people at Stout,” Lee said. “It was very gratifying to watch students grow and follow them as they advanced throughout their careers.”
Lee’s commitment to service has continued since his retirement from UW-Stout in 2009. He helped establish the Dunn County Master Gardener Association, worked with Pounding Fathers and helped with the first six Habitat for Humanity homes in Menomonie. He has served on the boards of Bridge to Hope, Stepping Stones and the Menomonie Senior Center.
Lee continues to volunteer weekly with Meals on Wheels, Stepping Stones and St. Joe’s fish fry. He also washes dishes after monthly Menomonie Senior Center meals and has served as a financial coach in the Dunn County Jail.
One of his favorite volunteer activities is helping kindergarten students with reading.
“My happy day is Monday, when I help kindergarten kids with reading,” Lee said. “I’ve been doing this for the past four years, and I always come home happy and share my experience with Charlotte.”
Philanthropy is another important part of the Lees’ commitment to the community. Howard and Charlotte support programs through the Community Foundation of Dunn County and UW-Stout Polytechnic, including scholarships that help reduce financial barriers for students.
“Both Charlotte and I feel it is very important to provide scholarships to Stout students as we were both recipients of scholarships as students,” Lee said.
The Lees also host international students in the summer ESL program and participate in UW-Stout events, including athletics. Lee develops programs for seniors through Chippewa Valley Learning in Retirement, including tours of UW-Stout Polytechnic laboratories.
The Lees’ connection to Stout is also a family tradition. Their three sons, Nathan (’97), Sheldon (’98) and Jonathan (’02), and daughter-in-law Ruth May (’00) are UW-Stout alumni. Their grandson Simon is attending Stout in electrical engineering.
In 2025, the Lees were named Knights of Columbus Monsignor Blecha Council 2055 Family of the Year and Outstanding Dunn County Philanthropists by the Dunn County Chippewa Valley Fundraising Professionals.
Lee credits much of his approach to life and work to lessons learned at Stout.
“Believe in yourself, build on past success, put forth effort and learn to ask for help,” he said. “Success builds on success.”
He also believes service is an important responsibility. “It’s a shame to have skills and knowledge and not use them,” Lee said.
This story was edited for brevity. To see the entire story, click the link below:
https://www.uwstout.edu/about-us/news-center/luminary-alumni-award-howard-lee-68-69?
